For treating providers: nexus letters

What does “at least as likely as not” mean?

Written by Staff Writer AI-assisted · YourVABenefits · Who writes these

It means a probability of 50 percent or greater. It is VA's standard, and it is lower than the certainty clinical practice usually asks for: if the evidence for and against is evenly balanced, the standard is met. VA is required to resolve reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor (38 U.S.C. § 5107(b); 38 CFR 3.102), so an evenly balanced opinion is a favorable one.

More in For treating providers: nexus letters

• What is a nexus letter?
• Do I have to be a specialist, or a VA doctor?
• What makes an opinion carry weight with VA?
• Am I being asked to say the condition is service connected?
• What if I do not believe the condition is related to service?
• What if I genuinely cannot tell?
• What is the difference between causation and aggravation?
• What is a secondary condition?
• Do I have to use the draft letter I was sent?
• Is this a legal document? What am I signing?
• Does VA pay me for this?
• Where does the letter go, and who sees it?
• How long should it be?

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